World’s Largest Italian Ice Brand Brings Custom Donut Creations To Bloomington With its New Cafe Concept
Rita’s Italian Ice, the world’s largest Italian Ice brand with more than 600 stores, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest Rita’s Cafe location on May 21 in Bloomington. The company announced the testing and introduction of a new Rita’s Cafe concept earlier this spring as an exciting evolution of the brands’ beloved frozen treat offerings, which will now include fresh donuts, coffee and specialty drinks in addition to its signature Italian Ice and famous Frozen Custard. Bloomington locals and Minnesota area developers Angela and Adam Ailloni are proudly bringing the new cafe concept to the area — one of just five Rita’s Cafe locations in the U.S.
To celebrate their grand opening, the store will be offering free Italian Ice for a year to the first 50 guests in line on May 21 who sign up for the Rita’s Birthday Club and bring a monetary donation in support of the American Refugee Committee. The store will also be giving away free donuts from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and free Italian Ice from noon to 10 p.m.
“Both Adam and myself are from the East Coast and have been lifelong Rita’s fans,” said Angela Ailloni. “After opening our first location in Eagan in 2014, we have seen a tremendous amount of growth in the area and we’re thrilled to continue that trend with this new and exciting cafe offering. We can’t wait to introduce our local Rita’s fans to our expanded menu featuring fresh donuts and coffee!”
In addition to Rita’s signature Italian Ice and Frozen Custard, the Rita’s Cafe of Bloomington will be proudly pouring Dunn Brothers organic single origin coffee and its menu will include unique donut creations such as Maple Walnut and Cotton Candy Confetti, as well as create-your-own options — customizing a freshly made Vanilla Cake Donut with a variety of icings and toppings of choice. Rita’s Cafe of Bloomington will also offer new items that combine fresh donuts into frozen treats such as a Donut Blendini, specialty beverages combining Rita’s award-winning Frozen Custard with Dunn Brothers Coffee and a full line of hot and cold coffee and espresso drinks.
“Rita’s Cafes are an exciting new way for us to serve our guests from morning until night by offering delicious products that naturally fit within our fan-favorite frozen treats,” said Eric Taylor, chief development officer at Rita’s Italian Ice. “Angela and Adam have already done a fantastic job developing the state of Minnesota and we’re thrilled that they have chosen to bring the new cafe concept for locals to love and enjoy.”
The new Rita’s Cafe is located at the corner of France Avenue and Old Shakopee Road in the new Park Place Plaza and will feature indoor and outdoor plaza seating. The new store is also a Kosher certified location through MSP Kosher supervision.
With more than 30 years in business, Rita’s Italian Ice has been aggressively expanding across the United States and internationally, with locations now open in Canada, the Philippines, Middle East and Caribbean. For more information on purchasing your own Rita’s Italian Ice or Rita’s Cafe franchise, please visit http://www.ownaritas.com.
Ranked #1 in Nation’s Restaurant News “Consumer Picks 2014” for Service and Value in the Frozen Treat category and 14th overall in the Limited-Service category, Rita’s Franchise Company is the largest Italian Ice concept in the world with more than 600 stores in the U.S. The company is aggressively expanding internationally with operating locations in the Philippines, Canada, the Middle East, and Caribbean. Rita’s, headquartered in Trevose, Pa., was also named one of the Top 25 Franchise High Performers by the Wall Street Journal’s “Startup Journal” and ranks #81 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s “2014 Franchise 500” list. For more information about Rita’s franchise opportunities, please visit: http://www.ownaritas.com.
The popular chain offers a variety of “Cool Treats,” including: its famous Italian Ice, made fresh daily with real fruit and available in more than 65 flavors; Old-Fashioned Frozen Custard; Sundaes; Light Custard; Frozen Custard Cakes; Custard Cookie Sandwiches made with OREO; layered Gelatis; and its signature Misto and Blendini creations. Since 1984, Rita’s has been dedicated to serving up a big dose of happiness with its freshly made, delicious treats in a fun-filled atmosphere, and thirty years later, it is still spreading “Ice, Custard, Happiness!” For more information about Rita’s Italian Ice, please call 1-800-677-7482 or visit http://www.ritasice.com.
